EVIDENCE FOR THE POLYMERIZATION OF ETHYLENE CATALYZED BY TI+ IN THE GAS-PHASE

In this communication, we report the polymerization of ethylene molecules induced by an atomic ion, namely Ti+, in the gas phase. The experiments are performed by using a newly built selected ion drift tube with, laser vaporization source apparatus operated at thermal energies. So far, up to twenty ethylene molecules are found to react with Ti+. The evidence that a large number of ethylene molecules react with, and become bonded onto, Ti+ at room temperature strongly suggests that Ti+ induces a reaction between the ethylene molecules that leads to the formation of an ethylene polymer.